I don’t listen to much traditional or classic doom metal, but two pure-ish doom records have crossed my desk lately, Church of Bones From Poland’s Monasterium, and this the second effort from Miami’s Nixa, and this by far is the better release and a solid mix of sludge and doom to boot.

Horn of the Rhino mixed with Pallbearer is a good reference point for Nixa, as its got a little more heft within the fuzzy moping tones, thought its not quite as depressive and has some buzzed out, sludgy- Deadbird elements as well. For me to enjoy this sort of doom, the vocals have to be spot on (i.e Horn of the Rhino’s Javier Gálvez), and the focal point of Nixa is Swedish vocalist, Valentin Mellström who nails the vocals. Powerful and emotional, soaring but not to falsetto, and giving the material a wide array of moods, offsetting the more basic sludge throes.

The only thing really missing from the record is those intense moments of soul crushing music that truly moves you, as from the opening title track, the album’s 7 song, 38 minute run time plods by with ample, dreary fuzz ‘n’ lope, but never really tugs on the heartstrings like say, Pallbearer’s debut (i.e “An Offering of Grief”). “Destroyer” has a more mournful gait a couple of minutes in, “Heart of Serpents” has a nice melancholy lead solo and closer “Restless Seer” comes close with a nice vocal melody in the verse, but it never comes close to truly making you open your wrists, but I’m not sure they are that kind of ‘true’ doom band.

Tracks like “Seed” and “The Mound” are more apt, with a steady slow pace that delivers the stout, doomy goods, but never gets too depressive. In all a solid record.

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